MADISON COUNTY – After months of delays, uncertainty and a full reconstruction of the schedule, both of Cazenovia High School’s varsity basketball teams saw its first game action of 2021.
Neither of the Lakers’ sides won last Wednesday night, but the mere fact that they were on the court was a tribute to perseverance, patience and the work of people inside and outside the program.
Not until Feb. 8 did practices begin, partially because New York State officials did not approve “high-risk” winter sports until the final days of January, putting the entire winter sports season at Cazenovia in doubt.
Even then, Madison County officials waited until COVID-19 infection rates dropped further before giving their approval, similar to what had taken place in other counties in Central New York.
Thus, the schedules originally set for boys and girls basketball had to be scrapped. Replacing it was three weeks of games set to be concluded by March 13.
As it turned out, the first assignment for the Cazenovia boys was against DeRuyter, who made an undefeated run to the Section III Class D championship in 2020 and were atop the state rankings before the pandemic wiped out the Rockets’ chances of earning a state title.
Returning most of its starting lineup from a season ago, DeRuyter was already 3-0 when it welcomed the Lakers and, despite a solid effort, Cazenovia took a 76-61 defeat.
Patrick Linck was the game’s top scorer, earning 24 points for the Lakers. Alex Moesch had 15 points, with A.J. Rothfeld contributing 13 points.
Leading DeRuyter, Gavin Richardson picked up 21 points and 10 assists. Tristan Warlock had 19 points and eight rebounds, with Ben Barnes getting 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Riley Glisson had 15 points.
Cazenovia would play again 24 hours later, against Skaneateles, and would get its first win of this abbreviated season, winning the Lakers duel by a 47-42 margin.
A 13-5 second-quarter push gave Cazenovia the lead, and Linck made sure it held on, his 19 points augmented by nine points from Alex Moesch as A.J. Rothfeld and Peter McCole had six points apiece.
As for the Cazenovia girls, it fell 48-30 to Skaneateles that same night. This Lakers clash was a difficult assignment for the hosts because it was just getting underway while Skaneateles had already played three times.
Held to modest point totals in every quarter, Cazenovia did see Carleigh Szalach earn 14 points, nearly half her team’s output.
Hadley Schug hit her team’s lone 3-pointer as Caitlyn Smithers got four points. Maddy Ramsgard (17 points), Faith Wagner (10 points) and Kate Aberi (nine points) did most of the damage for Skanetaeles.
Finally beginning its season on Thursday, Chittenango’s girls basketball team made quite a fourth-quarter comeback to top Hamilton 52-46.
The Emerald Knights led 35-27 going to the final period, but the Bears roared back, led by Hailee Foran, who poured in 23 points, and Sarah Lanphear, who had 13 points. Megan Kingsley finished with seven points.
Chittenango’s boys lost 63-58 to Hamilton, a game where the Emerald Knights’ 17-8 push through the third quarter put them in front for good, led by 24 points from Tom Simpson and 20 points from Ryan Rutledge.
Putting four players in double figures, the Bears had Bryce Bishop gain 17 points, with Tyrus Kelly getting 12 points. Jacob Dawkins and James Miller had 11 points apiece as
This started a home-and-home series which continued Friday as both of Chittenango’s teams would prevail.
The boys Bears won 52-48 by breaking out of a 39-39 tie at the start of the fourth quarter, led by Kelly, who finished with 16 points just ahead of Miller’s total of 13 points. Bishop and Dawkins had eight points apiece.
For the Chittenango girls, this was a hard-fought 38-35 victory where it held Hamilton to seven first-half points and withstood a late comeback. Lanphear had 10 points, with Foran getting seven points. Maryanna Garcia, Avree Salce and Megan Kingsley had six points apiece.
Both of the Chittenango teams would face Cazenovia early this week, renewing that neighborhood rivalry.
